It doesn't really matter whether a guitar has 2 or 3 pickups. The effects loop basically interrupts the signal path just before the volume/tone controls. The signal is diverted out to the effects -(pedal board/stomp boxes)- and returns to the guitar to then be sent through the volume/tone controls and then out to the amp. The theory is that the effects always see the same signal, making it easier to replicate the sound from gig to gig, venue to venue. I essentially achieve this by always keeping my guitar's volume at "10" and using a volume pedal at the end of my effects chain. In my set up the signal does go through the tone controls first, but the effects are always seeing the same volume. It basically has the same result, but I can go cordless (as I prefer) rather than being anchored by two cords, as necessitated with the Garcia effects loop. In fact, I'm having my custom Further built without the effects loop.

Do you find that the volume pedal changes your tone, especially when using an overdrive channel or effects, much in the same way that rolling the volume on your guitar back decreases the amont of distortion? I'm looking for a way to have increased volume available that doesn't effect the tone, my volume pedal doesn't seem to do the trick. I've always put it first in my chain, should I use last in line?

My inclination is to always use the volume pedal last in the chain, for a number of reasons. For one, you can kill any extraneous noises between songs more effectively. As Bill states, it allows for a consistent (optimal) signal going into your effects...

I try to put the volume pedal after all the effects except the time based ones (ie. delay, reverb) so that when you back off the volume, the delays and verbs can trail off in a natural way. It sounds more natural that way.

So what is the price for the HG4s with the TRS effects loop? I would like to use this in a custom instrument that I am making, as I have full faith in the sound of alembic pickups. I would like the board to be set for volume post-effects.